Cenotaph In Manchester Damaged By Skateboarders

[ChillDoubt]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/517569/Skateboarders-trashed-restored-cenotaph

I'm not generally given to violence(my demeanour and physique means I almost always avoid it due to a 'presence') but had I witnessed this I would have struggled to contain myself.
The very least the council can do is name and shame.
I'd rather see them birched, but hope springs eternal.

[sandyRoe]

The people who are commemorated by the Cenotaph must seem as remote to the skateboarders as the people who fell at Waterloo would be to us who know what that memorial means. I'd guess that ideas like duty or sacrifice would be incomprehensible to the skateboarders.

[naomi24]

Who cares? He's right.

[naomi24]

^That was to ag.

[agchristie]

And worthy of a BA!

[sunny-dave]

Thermonuclear, agc?

It may be because I've recently been in Lisbon and seen at first hand what happens to a City which has neither the will or means to tackle graffiti and other antisocial manifestations.

The place is a horrible mess and just feels dreadful (outside the main tourist streets). I don't want to see our Cities go the same way.

[ChillDoubt]

When it comes to memorials to the fallen, of any nation, I am of the opinion that they are sacrosanct and thus deserve the deference and respect they deserve so I'm draconian when wishing punishment on those who IMHO desecrate them.

I therefore have the pleasure of awarding sunny-dave Best Answer.

[HARPY]

There are plenty of places to use skateboards in Manchester and this one is excellent only 15/20 minutes walk from the Cenotaph.


http://www.projektsmcr.com/

[naomi24]

Chilld - good decision.

[agchristie]

That's interesting Dave. I agree, memorial sites are too important a feature to be treated with contempt and disrespect. I seem to read more and more about such vandalism. How do we change attitudes? By getting tougher that's how.

[ChillDoubt]

I agree ag. Imagine something similar happening at the Menin Gate? Oh no, it wouldn't because the Belgians undoubtedly cover their history very well, as well as having enormous respect for the sacrifices made on their soil.
There is also a story from WWII whereby a German soldier urinated on the Menin Gate. A German officer had him shot.

This lot might get an ASBO or fine for a public order offence. In Belgium they'd have been pilloried.

[agchristie]

Incidentally, the local memorial near where I live had the plaques stolen recently, with hundreds of names of the fallen, for scrap metal. Shocking.

[Gromit]

The Cenotaph in Manchester has been moved to make way for a new tram line.

For 'restored' read replaced with shoddy materials. The previous base was marble and has weathered well for decades. The new material is stone which chips easily and will have to be replaced after a few winters. There has been vandalism at work here, but it is municipal vandalism by the Council.

They missed a great opportunity to relocated the Cenotaph from St Peters Square which is now inappropriate. It is fare too busy especially with the extended MetroLink Station.

[ChillDoubt]

To be fair though Gromit, whether sub standard materials or not it should not have been subjected to such shocking behaviour whereby it sustained damage anyway.
The cost of repair should be met by the transgressions, as it would be for any other case of criminal damage.

[Zacs-Master]

There is an element of naivety by MCC here. The cenotaph plinth has long shallow steps which must be a magnet to skateboarders. A few ridged paving slabs around and on the steps would have spoilt their fun.

[chaptazbru2]

FrogNog what a load of utter tosh !!!! This is a Cenotaph NOT a skateboard park. sunny-dave, you well deserved best answer.

Oh and I stand by my answer too !